Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a global health threat in the past decades. It is proving to be a prevailing cause of various liver diseases.
Many doctors and therapists have emphasized lifestyle changes such as physical activity and adopting a healthy eating habit to maintain optimum body weight and keep cardio-metabolic risks at check.
Recently, a group of researchers has found that a weight management program based upon the keto diet dramatically improved biomarkers of liver disease and metabolic parameters in patients living with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
What is NASH?
Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis (NASH) is considered the most severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is the liver manifestation of a metabolic disorder and is closely related to metabolic syndrome, obesity, pre-diabetes, and diabetes.
Lifestyle choices, such as sedentary inactivity and chronic excessive calorie intake, heavily influence NASH. This condition’s clinical risk factors are crucial for identifying and diagnosing at-risk patients and offering interventions before irreparable liver damage occurs.
Patients with high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity are at the most significant risk. It is distinct from other fatty liver diseases, typically caused by alcohol abuse or medication side effects.
The challenge with NASH is it’s difficult to diagnose since its symptoms are not necessarily specific, and many times the symptoms are silent. Often, this results in a patient not knowing they have the condition until they progress to its late stages.
New research explores whether a keto diet can help in NASH
Dr. Yuliya Belopolsky, an internal medicine specialist at NorthShore University Health System and lead author of the study, points out that this is the first of its kind research to explore NASH specifically. While two other studies using a keto diet for patients with non-alcoholic liver disease took place, they were not specific to NASH and were done 5 and 10 years ago.
According to the study, a ketogenic diet (and other caloric restrictive diets) shows an incredible ability to improve metabolic syndrome symptoms, including NASH. This new study evaluates the effect of the “Ideal Protein Diet” on metabolic parameters and biomarkers of liver disease in patients living with NASH.
The research team carried out a retrospective evaluation of all NASH patients who were clients of the weight loss clinic between 2014 and 2018. These patients’ medical records were the source of demographic and laboratory data.
The markers include sex, age, body weight, BMI, blood pressure, triglycerides, albumin, platelets, LDL, HDL, HbA1c, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase.
The presence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was evaluated using three methods: liver biopsy, FibroScan (Echosens), or magnetic resonance elastography. And the FIB-4 index was used to assess noninvasive liver fibrosis.
The outcome of the study
The study split participants into two groups, those who opt to join the protein diet group or refuse enrollment. The group of patients refusing to join the program were the control group.
After about 6 and 1/2 months, patients who enrolled in the Ideal Protein diet group experienced significant weight loss and improvement in their insulin resistance, as shown by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).
Remarkably, more than half of those in the protein group shed 10 percent or more of their weight. Also, this group experienced a significant decline in FIB-4 scores and transaminases. And there was no report of such considerable changes in the same data points for patients in the control group.
The researchers believe that these findings show the significant beneficial effects of the Ideal Protein diet on liver enzymes and liver disease biomarkers in patients living with NASH.
Previous studies and clinical applications demonstrate the Ideal Protein protocol’s beneficial improvements in cardiovascular parameters, lipid profiles, and glycemic control. The protocol structure is clinically relevant as it features three phases: weight loss, stabilization, and maintenance. This feature, which allows patients to maintain their initial weight loss, is critical and essential for the NASH patient population.
Why this analysis is important for the healthcare providers
The study authors are planning a long-term, randomized prospective study for NASH patients due to these promising results. This follow-up study will follow patients for two years to substantiate the ability to sustain the results.
Although the study has not yet come to any conclusion and more research is going on, the present results bear great significance on the Ideal Protein ketogenic diet’s impact on treating symptoms of metabolic syndrome and fatty liver.
Typically, a healthcare provider sees the metabolic syndrome patient once every three to six months. Also, an average office visit doesn’t allow the provider enough time to address the chief complaint and provide the patient with specific, actionable dietary modifications to support their condition. This gap is the value add BioIntelligent Wellness brings to the partnership.
We work with these patients every week and keep track of their progress with daily email and/or text electronic support. This division of labor allows us to help our providers by spending the time needed with these patients.
Healthcare providers who would like to learn more about the beneficial effects of the Ideal Protein diet on patients with NASH, NAFLD, and metabolic syndrome, click here to read about the program.
A Word from BioIntelligent Wellness
At BioIntelligent Wellness, we partner directly with physicians to provide clinically relevant and effective dietary protocols to improve those with chronic conditions. The providers we work with find the synergy between a managing physician, the patient, and their nutritionist or coach is an invaluable tool for compliance.
Our referring and managing providers find value in offering this resource to the patient. But the patients benefit from this model most as they have a team to guide them in losing weight and improving their health parameters. With Ideal Protein protocol, they receive education, encouragement, and support essential for making lasting improvements to their health.
Want to find out more about the Ideal Protein protocol and how its dietary approach can help your patients overcome their health conditions? Simply call us at 858-228-3644 or email to [email protected] and we will reach you ASAP.
